DROMAHANE

DROMAHANE

Gates Open:

12:00 noon

First Race:

2:00 pm

Admission Prices:

Online Ticket Offer:

Track Biography:

The town of Doneraile, in North Cork, is situated in the heartland of National hunt racing history. It was in Doneraile in 1752 that the first recorded steeplechase finished at the spire of the local Protestant Church having started over 4 miles away in Buttevant at the spire of their local Protestant Church. Since 1752, North Cork has continuously held centre stage in national hunt racing.

The great Dr. Vincent O’Brien started out training in nearby Churchtown. In recent times Silver Birch, bred by the Power family in Shanballymore won the Aintree Grand national in 2007, providing leading trainer Gordon Elliot with his first winner. Jim Culloty sent out Lord Windemere to win the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup from his Churchtown base.

Doneraile point-to-point was first held in 1974 on the lands of the late Con O’Keeffe, a staunch supporter of point to-point racing during his lifetime. It was appropriate that the first winner was one of his horses, Westlander, ridden by his son Brian. Another favourite during the early days was a horse called The Black Watch owned and ridden by Bill Elliot.

In more recent times, the Doneraile Point-to-Point has been held at the nearby Dromahane course. Dromahane is one of the premier point-to-point tracks in Ireland, always providing competitive action. One of the recent Cheltenham winners, Black Hercules, won his maiden point –to-point at the Doneraile meeting for the renowned Mullins family.

Ballyarthur Point-to-Point Races

Ballyarthur,

Carrignagroghra,

Fermoy,

Co. Cork

Contact Details

Tony Lewis - 0872237320

How To Get There

By Road

From Mallow- At the roundabout take the N20 for Cork and continue out the road and take the R620 to Dromahane. In the village of Dromahane turn left up the hill. Continue up that road and veer left, (not to bweeng). Take the first left up that road. Use Eircode P51N6TO. It will be signposted from main road.

From Cork - On the Cork Mallow Road N20 turn left for Dromahane on the R620.In the village of Dromahane turn left up the hill. Continue up that road and veer left, (not to bweeng). Take the first left up that road. Use Eircode P51N6TO. It will be signposted from main road.

From Killarney - On the Main Mallow to Killarney Road (N72) on Navigation Road take a right on to the R621 and follow the road signposted for Dromahane. Use Eircode P51N6TO. It will be signposted from the main road.

By Air

Our point-to-point is located forty five minutes from Cork airport.

Did You Know?

“Over 1,200 races on the track in Ireland & Britain were won by horses who had started their careers in an Irish Point-to-Point”.

The Donnchadh Doyle-trained FIRAK, a half-brother to the smart track performer, Virak, brings the strongest piece of form into this race on account of his second at Ballyarthur on debut. He holds entries right across the weekend, and would to be respected at whichever venue his connections decide to run him at. As there is only one other horse in the race with a previous completed run to their name, it is likely that the many newcomers will provide the main opposition, and the market will give the best guide of them.

TATTLETALE and Cantgetenough finished within five lengths of each other when chasing home Boss Man Fred at Ballyragget last month, and the pair should once again be closely matched once again here. Niftyfifty got among the placings at Ballyarthur, as did Broomfield Boy when he finished second at Kildorrery back in February, and they are others with claims in a wide-open looking race.

The Moig South runner-up, DIRECT IMAGE, only got as far as the halfway point at Lismore last month before being brought down at the eighth fence. She will be seeking compensation in this for the Robert Tyner yard. Finisk Mist has twice been forced to settle for the runners-up spot and is surely close to a maiden success, whilst Ballinaboola-fourth Moonlit Wings and the track recruit, Loughaderra Flame, who finished second over hurdles at Wexford last summer, are some of the other dangers.

If the ground came in his favour, it would be a welcome sight to see last years champion point-to-point horse, SYDNEY PAGET, return to the winners enclosure. He was only narrowly denied at Aghabullogue on his return to action and will surely go close. It Came To Pass got the better of the former Cheltenham Festival winner Lac Fontana at Lismore last month and they add particular interest to this race, alongside one of the seasons leading horses, Longhouse Music, who brought up winner number six of the campaign at Portrush last Saturday. Gwencily Berbas, Timewaitsfornone, Arctic Skipper, Holly Flight and Oscar Contender are all more than capable of winning on their day in what is a very competitive race.

MOSCOWSOWHAT has not been seen since finishing a fine second on his debut at Ballindenisk in December, but since then, the form of the race has worked out well, with the third and fourth placed horses have come out and won their maidens, and he is expected to do so here. Rwegoinhigh was back near his best at Ballynoe last Sunday, and alongside Clonguile Way, Timber Jack, Exit Eleven and Mere Park, there are a number of likely place contenders.

ROB ROYAL has come to grief in both outings to date, however the grey gelding was going notably well before tipping up at the second-last around here 12 months ago, and could be able to get his head in front in this. Eoualyo finished second in a similar event at Bandon last month and is the obvious alternative having finished placed as a four-year-old earlier in the campaign.